In Urbanization, the players follow the development of a rural area, from the beginning of the industrial revolution to modern times. They guide their villages through hard times and try to attract citizens by building houses. Later, factories are erected and the villages grow into prospering cities.

The player who develops his city most efficiently will be victorious in the end.

Game play in Urbanization includes no random elements, and the game comes packaged with an expansion, "the inventions".